Nutricosmetics: The latest category of skin-care products is ingestible

Beauty

Nutricosmetics: The latest category of skin-care products is ingestible

We’re all familiar with the benefits of topical skin-care products, from antioxidant-rich serums to hyaluronic acid–dense creams, but there’s a new trend bubbling over—or, should we say, under. The latest beauty category is nutricosmetics, and it includes pills, drinks and powders packed with skin-beautifying nutrients that you swallow. These specially formulated supplements claim to carry targeted vitamins directly to the lower layers of the skin, an area not easily accessible by topical products.

How do they work? The skin, like other organs, is capable of using nutrients from both internal and external sources to function. Internal skin care is meant to “work on the dermal level, where regeneration and skin-cell production happens,” says Corina Crysler, cofounder of Canadian-based Glisodin Skin Nutrients. “We can protect the skin from free radicals, hydrate and improve elasticity.”

Nutricosmetics are not meant to replace your favourite topical applications that work on the external layers, primarily the epidermis. Instead, by adding a supplement to your beauty wheelhouse, it becomes a two-pronged approach. “By pairing what we apply topically with what we ingest, we get better and longer-lasting results,” says Connie Tai, founder and head of product development for Miyu Beauty, which pairs teas with topicals.

Why so popular?Although nutricosmetics have proven popular in Europe and Asia for more than a decade, they are only recently solidifying a space on North American shelves—and the category is projected to grow into a billion-dollar industry. Several experts believe it has recently gained steam due to the influx of trailblazing Asian beauty trends, the growing interest in everything natural and organic, a deeper consumer understanding of ingredients and, of course, the red-hot cold-pressed juice craze. Who hasn’t reached for a green juice hoping to glow from within?

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6 ingestible beauty supplements for hair, skin and nails

Pop it

This Canadian-owned company aims to control the imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants in the body via pills and powders. Advanced Anti-Aging/Dermal Formula, the bestseller, is a nutrient-dense capsule that improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. “Expect to see changes after two to three skin cycles (two to three months),” says cofounder Corina Crysler. Glisodin Skin Nutrients Advanced Dermal Formula, $95, glisodinskin.com.

Image by: Canadian Living
By: Grace Toby
Source: Glisodin

6 ingestible beauty supplements for hair, skin and nails

Sip it

The first brand to “intimately pair skin care with teas,” Miyu Beauty’s unique approach aims to make improvements from both an internal and external perspective. Miyu Beauty Hydrate Mi Pairing (tea and beauty essence), $42, miyubeauty.com.

Image by: Canadian Living
By: Grace Toby
Source: Miyu Beauty

6 ingestible beauty supplements for hair, skin and nails

Slurp it

By delivering nutrition to the “lower and subcutaneous levels that can’t easily be reached topically, The Beauty Molecule delivers a better environment for healthy skin,” says Brandon Truaxe, founder of Deciem. One teaspoon a day of this product delivers a high concentration of resveratrol and hyaluronic acid. Fountain The Beauty Molecule, $35, fountain.co.

Image by: Canadian Living
By: Grace Toby
Source: Deciem

6 ingestible beauty supplements for hair, skin and nails

Dissolve it

Model Elle Macpherson’s supplement of choice, The Super Elixir, is a blend of 45 alkaline-friendly ingredients that are a mix of greens-based powders and Chinese herbs formulated to align your pH levels. Dissolve it into a glass of water and go. The Super Elixir by WelleCo, US$135, welleco.com.

Image by: Canadian Living
By: Grace Toby
Source: Net-A-Porter

6 ingestible beauty supplements for hair, skin and nails

Gulp it

This cold-pressed green juice with spinach, dill and parsley is pH-balancing, high in retinol (which helps with cellular turnover) and helps improve hair, skin and nails. Drink Juice Co. A Dill You Can't Refuse, $9, drinkjuiceco.com.